Four years for teen who threatened garda
An imprisoned teenager who threatened to kill a garda has been given a four years sentence by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Graham Taylor (aged 18) of Rossfield Park, Tallaght threatened Detective Garda Kieran McGrath after he was caught trespassing at a house with his twin brother and another culprit.
He was twice arrested also by gardaí in a stolen vehicle after car chases on July 08, 2007 and again at Woodstown Lawn, Knocklyon on October 24, 2007 .
Defence counsel, Mr Seán Gillane BL, said Taylor was due for release from a three-year sentence in 2010 for another crime and this was "a substantial sentence for an 18-year-old".
Mr Gillane said Taylor's threat to Det Gda McGrath arose "in the heat of the moment, immediately after his arrest". Counsel cited a troubled family background and his early departure from school as possible reasons for his client's delinquent behaviour and serious offending.
Judge Hunt acknowledged Taylor's young age and suspended the final year of his sentence.
Det Gda John O'Connell said he heard the teenager threaten Det Gda McGrath on his arrest that "he'd get him sorted when he found out where he lived and would get 'a load of travellers' after him."
Det Gda O'Connell told prosecution counsel, Ms Karen O'Connor BL, that he and his colleagues were in the Knocklyon area on another matter when they spotted the Taylors and another man through infrared binoculars around 4.50am breaking into a back garden shed.
Taylor had 47 previous convictions including burglary and criminal damage committed the previous day, dangerous driving, failing to stop for gardaí, driving without insurance or licence, obstruction, offences under the Firearms Act and public order offences.
Taylor's twin, Mark, will be sentenced next year for threatening Det Gda David Conroy at Rathfarnham Garda Station, where he was detained for the trespassing offence.
